2024-01-15 20:37:41
Los Angeles schools hit Arizona for Pac-12 play this week, GCU remains on a win streak
The Los Angeles schools trek through Arizona this week for Pac-12 play but neither has quite the swagger it has had in years past. Can the Arizona State Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats take advantage?
UCLA (7-10, 2-4) and USC (8-9, 2-4) sit as part of a four-way tie for eighth place while ASU (10-6, 4-1) sits in second right behind Oregon (13-3, 5-0) with Arizona (12-4, 3-2) in striking distance.
The first games this week come on Wednesday. UCLA is at ASU at 7 p.m. at Desert Financial Arena with the game airing on Pac-12 Network, and USC is at McKale Center for an 8 p.m. showdown with the Wildcats that will be televised by ESPN.
The schools swap foes on Saturday with USC playing at ASU at noon and UCLA trekking south for a 2 p.m. game in Tucson.
How bad has it been for the California schools? Well, UCLA righted the ship with a 73-61 win over Washington on Sunday but the Bruins had lost eight of their previous nine games, the most recent of those losses being a 90-44 beatdown at the hands of Utah.
USC has lost its last two and four of the last six games and is now without freshman standout Isaiah Collier (15.4 ppg, 4.1 apg), who is expected to be out four to six weeks with a hand injury sustained in a loss to Washington State last week. His absence will likely lead to more playing time for Bronny James, who has been the Trojans’ first guard coming off the bench.
The local schools aren’t coming off the best of weeks either, with ASU losing at Washington (10-7, 2-4) and Arizona being upset at Washington State (12-5, 3-3) with the Wildcats dropping to No. 12 in the latest national poll.
The Wildcats are led by Caleb Love (18.3 ppg), who ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in scoring, and Oumar Ballo (12.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg, who is third in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage (59.4).
ASU has relied more on balance. It doesn’t have a player at high as 14 points but has four averaging double figures with point guard Frankie Collins’ 13.6 leading the team. He also leads the Pac-12 and ranks third nationally in steals.
ASU, Arizona women headed back on road
Both Pac-12 women’s teams are headed to the Pacific Northwest for a second straight week. Last week the two went north to play the Oregon schools. This week they have to go back to face the Washington opponents.
Arizona (10-7, 2-3) will play at Washington (11-4, 1-3) at 8 p.m. Friday and at Washington State (12-5, 1-3) at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Wildcats have had a knack for close games lately. Their last four games have been decided by a total of seven points with Arizona going 1-3 in those contests.
ASU (8-9, 0-5) plays the same teams in reverse order, starting with Washington State on Friday and then Washington on Sunday. The Sun Devils are still looking for their first conference victory and have lost each game in a tough Pac-12 by double digits. Their most recent loss was 92-55 at Oregon State on Sunday.
GCU men and women on win streaks
The Grand Canyon men put a 13-game win streak this week with two Western Athletic Conference games. The Lopes (16-1, 6-0) will host Utah Valley (8-9, 3-3) at 7 p.m. Thursday. They are 9-0 on their home floor. GCU then hits the road for an 8 p.m. game on Saturday at Seattle University (10-7, 3-3).
Bryce Drew’s team currently has a two-game lead in the conference with Stephen F. Austin (11-6, 4-2) sitting second. The Lopes are still among the teams receiving votes in the national poll.
Senior center Tyon Grant-Foster (20.6 ppg) leads the WAC in scoring while senior forward Gabe McGlothan (14.25 ppg, 8 rpg), a product of Basha High School, ranks 10th in scoring and third in rebounding.
The GCU women (14-3, 6-0) put a six-game win streak on the line Thursday, traveling to Utah Valley (6-9, 1-5) for a 6 p.m. game. They will host Seattle (1-14, 1-5) at 2 p.m. Saturday. They have a one-game lead in the WAC with Cal Baptist (13-2, 5-1) and Stephen F. Austin (11-6, 5-1) in striking distance.
GCU is coming off a 79-47 victory over Tarleton State, led by the 21 points of fifth-year senior guard Sydney Erikstrup.
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